My client, a former Olympic ski jumper and television commentator, is not afraid of taking chances, even in his real-estate ventures. He approached me about designing a small house that would be a challenge to a neighborhood of ranches and capes, built by the building arts classes of the local high school.
My concept lifted the living space above the street into the trees on a stony, hilly site, with marginal sun exposure. The design of small houses has been a recurring theme of my architectural practice, and I find it a never-ending source of challenge and creativity. The second floor is completely open with living, dining and kitchen spaces that lead to a covered porch over a one-car garage. A ship’s ladder leads to a loft used by the occupants as a library. The house is remarkably light and airy as it looks over the rooftops of its neighbors to the Mascoma River beyond.